Star Trek First Contact (Star Trek: First Contact (DVD))

Member Name: chris212

Product:	Star Trek: First Contact (DVD)
Date:	19/09/09 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The best of the Next Generation series of films

Disadvantages: One or two slight plot holes

Star Trek First Contact is the second big screen adventure that follows the Next Generation crew and the eight in total of the Star Trek series of films.

The films follows on from the last film Star Trek Generations, as the crew settle into their new ship, Enterprise E, the very latest ship in the fleet with all the latest technology, and flagship of the federation.

All of the crew of the Next Generation are reunited in this film, although Worf is not introduced until later in the film.

The films opens with the Enterprise E in space under going the very last faze of the shake down and ready for active duty. When Picard has a nightmare from his time as Locutus. After this he is contacted by an Admiral about his worst nightmare, the Borg have returned.

Due to events in the past the Enterprise is side lined, not because of lag of confidence in the ship and its crew, but her captain and the fact that he could be an unstable element in the mix. The Enterprise is tasked with guarding and patrolling the boarder with the Romulan Empire; but this order is soon disregarded by Picard and the crew.

It is at the next point that the only real space battle take place, as the Enterprise arrives to join the fleet take on the single Borg cube; and at the same time save the crew of the Defiant and its captain at the time, Worf.

From there the Borg go back in time, know that changes in the past could affect the future, and where the film gets it name from, the point if first contact for humanity. After going back in time, it is believed that the Borg have been killed, but all is not what it appears to be.

From this point the film is almost split into two, one on the planet lead by Riker and the other aboard the Enterprise lead by Picard.

On the planet we are introduced to Zefram Cochrane's first human Warp flight test flight that has always been alluded to in the history of the whole series, and is the basis of the whole series. But what he is portrayed as in this film is that he is not all that he is cracked up to be.

On the Enterprise E, Picard returns to the Enterprise along with Data when odd occurrences start occurring aboard the Enterprise, such as power drains, a rising temperature and humidity, perfect conditions for the Borg.

An important character that we have not seen before in the whole franchise is a leader type figure of the Borg, the Queen, played by Alice Krige. Although she is portrayed as this leader figure though out, she states that she is not but merely brings order to chaos.

The inclusion of the Borg Queen is a new development in the Star Trek franchise, as before the Borg were portrayed as this collective that is not ruled or dictated to by a single individual, but by a collective mind.

Krige played the part excellently as this mysterious figure, that now body knows about, that at the same time wields great power.

In terms of the rest of the cast, it is what we have become to know, Captain Picard as this unwavering figure that will not stand down and will always fight for what he believes in until the very end. But the role has changed at the same time, as in the film Picard is more action orientated than in either the previous film or the TV series, as it was always his role to stay on the ship and for Riker to be action person.

Although the whole cast are included some are not give as much time as other, such as Councillor Troi, or La Forge, as they are on the planet, along with Riker. But what we can see again from the film is that Data takes a significant role in the film, as he is captured and tries to explore Humanity with the Borg Queen.

There are two cameos in the film by two of the Voyager crew, Robert Piccard as the Enterprises Interactive Medical Hologram and Ethan Phillips who plays Nelix as a waiter on the planet.

One important part that is included in the film is the legendary 'Red Shirts'. These were the people that are extras brought in by the production team so they could easily be scarified and killed out in the film, and there are plenty of extras in this film. Although as in the TV series of the Next Generation this actors do not wear the red uniforms but the yellow ones.

One change that occurred in this film was the director of the film, as it was believed by the studio that they could not find a person at the time that could take on the role and know the significant and importance and therefore looked in house and chose Jonathan Frakes who plays Commander Riker. The direction of the film by Frakes can be seen, as it is almost as if it is arching back to the TV series: But unlike the previous film, which was also like an episode of the TV series, the film has been given a higher production and director value.

In terms of the graphics, this was the first time that CGI had a real impact on the design of the graphics, as in the previous film previous footage from the original series of films were used. In this film new footage was required due to the introduction of the Enterprise E.

As for the Enterprise E, it almost seemed in the last film that they wanted to get rid of the old ship at the first possible opportunity, which they did. The best way to describe the Enterprise E is a sleeker more military ship in design, which is more prepared for battle. As it is no longer one of the biggest ship, but more of the size of the original Enterprise of the original series, as it means that when in battle there is less of the ship to target. Also in terms of the people that are on the ship, as there are less of a family ship and more of a working ship.

There are a number of themes that are present within this movie, the first of being a time old tale of revenge, as it is even spoken about within the film, as a comparison between Picard and Captain Abraham. As Picard was compared to Abraham trying to catch his own whale, as Picard tries to stop the Borg at all cost as well, and has in the past been injured just the same. The second is temptation, as while Data is being held, he is given almost everything that he wants and is then given the opportunity to portray his friends and colleagues to live for what he has always wanted.

There are one or two problems with the plot of the story, such as the very end, which I will not explain, but you will wonder why it does not happen all the time in the films or TV series if they have the technology.

Overall, I believe that the film is one of the best of the series of films of Star Trek, as it can easily stand alone side the Wrath of Khan. As this is Star Trek at its best, as it takes a typical theme that we have seen before, such as Moby Dick, and take it to the future and make it work. Therefore I would defiantly recommend the film, as one of the best of the Next Generation series of films.

This is not a review of the DVD but of the film.

Summary: Among the best of the series of films